Leveraging Retailers For Fertilizer Extension Service Provision In Uganda

Type Journal Article - Journal of Agriculture
Title Leveraging Retailers For Fertilizer Extension Service Provision In Uganda
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
URL http://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Tenywa/publication/277311715_Leveraging_retailers_for_ferti​lizer_extension_service_provision_in_Uganda/links/5567266908aeab77721ea21f.pdf
Abstract
Uganda is among the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa committed to implement the Abuja 2006 Presidential declaration for each African Union member country to achieve nutrient use levels of 50 kg per hectare per year. Uganda has a “Fertilizer Policy” is already in place together with the “Strategy” to operationlise it. Unfortunately, the public agricultural extension delivery system on the ground needs redesigning in order to deliver effectively to support the implementation of the Strategy. The objective of this study was to analyse the possibility of capacitating agro-input retailers who sell fertilizers, to provide quality advice to their clients on a sustainable basis. It is clear that agro-input dealers provide some extension advice to farmers but the quality of the messages is inconsistent and non-traceable. Besides, more basic information on rates for different crops, methods and timing of application is virtually unavailable. Besides, fertilizer dealers’ efforts are not properly coordinated to match those of the veterinary and human pharmaceuticals service providers, who ensure that their products are used properly and safely. There is need for streamlining fertilizer dealers into the formal extension delivery system and capacitating them with quality extension messages and skills in communication, fertilizer business management and ethics that fit within the policy environment. A framework for skilling the existing fertilizer retailers is proposed, with short customized extension and business modules. Curricular modifications are also suggested to enable higher agriculture training institutions to produce professionals with minimum qualifications required in future to be licensed to operate fertilizer businesses.

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